Nationwide trend of fake school threats hits Arizona; 3 arrests in metro Phoenix

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — All around the country this week, law enforcement has been using valuable resources to respond to false threats at schools, and the trend is no different in Arizona.

On Friday, local police departments investigated social media threats at Arizona schools including Arcadia High School and San Luis High School, according to the school districts. Threats were also investigated and deemed false on Thursday at Tempe Union high schools.

This is in addition to a student arrested in Surprise on Monday for posting a school threat online and two other students arrested for making false threats in Buckeye.

Campo Verde High School in Gilbert sent a message to parents about the nationwide threats, but they said there have been “no substantiated threats against any GPS schools.”

In its email to parents and families, Campo Verde High School said the trend appears to be nationwide with people “making unsubstantiated social media threats against schools.”

“During this nationwide social media trend we will continue to work closely with local PD and our district,” the school’s release said. “Our top priority is always the safety of our students and staff and to be as transparent as possible with our parents and families so we can work together for the safety and wellbeing of our students.”

In the West Valley, Dysart High School officials said a threat on Thursday was found to be not credible, and parents were notified. They said anyone making threats against the school would face “criminal charges to the fullest extent of the law.”

Dr. Funda Bachini is the Division Chief for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and says there are signs you can look out for if school threats are impacting your kids.

“Behaviors I would look for are an increase in irritability, isolating themselves, not wanting to go to school or no longer enjoying school in a kid that used to do that,” she said.

Dr. Bachini says it’s important to find the right time to talk to your kids about what they are experiencing and feeling.

“I think the main message from parents to kids is we know these things are happening and we are here to help keep you safe,” she explained.

Phoenix Police sent Arizona’s Family the following statement about the false threats:

“Phoenix police investigators are aware of and are actively investigating reports of a social media threat being shared by multiple sources. We would like to remind students and families not to feed the cycle and report not re-post. We are investigating where these posts are coming from.”

Several schools and districts from around the United States have seen disruptions this week due to the threats.

In Missouri, local school districts including Jackson, Twin Rivers, Charleston, Sikeston and Dexter, addressed this issue with parents, Arizona’s Family affiliate KFVS-TV reported.

In Kentucky, Arizona’s Family affiliate stations reported a middle school in Lexington was placed on lockdown due to reports of a student with a weapon, and a middle school in Bowling Green was locked down due to a potential threat.

In Georgia, Atlanta Public Schools increased security on Thursday due to online threats. And in Florida, officials deemed threats to a high school in Branford as false.

Knox County Schools in Tennessee reported a dip in student attendance on Wednesday due to the nationwide increase in threats of violence toward schools.

High school football games were canceled in West Virginia, and classes were canceled in Michigan.

Some of the threats led to charges. CBS News reported an elementary student is charged after police said she made threats on social media against “various” Pittsburgh-area schools, and a 12-year-old girl in Minnesota was taken into police custody after some schools in St. Paul, Minn. canceled classes due to the threats.

Campo Verde High School officials gave the following advice related to these false threat incidents:

Report Don’t Repost - The appropriate action for a student to take if they see something concerning on social media is to report it to a trusted adult. Reposting or sharing with friends does not help the situation and can in fact impede any kind of investigation into an alleged social media threat.

The serious consequences of making threats against schools. There are a number of charges that can be filed against students for making any kind of threat against a school, including felony offenses.

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